All species
UK shore species
Garfish
Belone belone
Also Garpike, Longnose
BeginnerPopularfloatlurefeathers
Habitat
Clear water off piers, rocks and harbour mouths in summer, often with mackerel.
Season
Peak: Jun · Jul · Aug
Also possible: May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
A surface fish of clear summer water, all beak and green bone. They follow mackerel, take a float-fished strip or a small spinner, and jump.
- Very long, slender body
- A needle beak with both jaws extended
- Green-blue back, silver sides
- Bones that look green when cooked
Typically 40–70 cm including the beak. Body is slim.
- Colour
- Green back, silver flanks, needle jaws.
- Fins
- Dorsal and anal set well back.
- Mouth
- Both jaws elongated into a beak.
Ranked for this species, not as a universal law. Local crab runs and what is actually fresh matter more.
- MackerelA thin strip on a small hook; a side on a Pennel; a whole fish on a running tope rig.Strong target
- SandeelHead-hooked so it swims, or a Pennel through the head and the middle. Bind if you are casting far.Good target
- SpinnersA steady retrieve. Vary the speed until you find them.Good target
- Feathers / sabikiWork them through the layers. Do not leave them on the bottom.Possible target
- Float rigA bait suspended under a float for wrasse, mullet, garfish and the odd bass. You watch the float, not a rod tip.Intermediate
- Lure setupA lure on a braid line, a fluoro leader, and a retrieve. No lead on the sand unless the jig head is the lead.Intermediate
- Sabiki / mackerel feathersA string of small lures under a light lead, worked through a shoal. When mackerel are in, this is the rig.Beginner
Hooks: 8–4, long shank. They have a small mouth at the end of a long beak.